Zanzibar: Prison Island Tour with Lunch on the Sandbank

Prison Island gives you two very different Zanzibar experiences in one outing: a look at an unfinished prison that never held prisoners, followed by time with giant tortoises and a seafood lunch on the sand. I like the odd history here, especially the fact that the island became a yellow-fever quarantine station instead of the prison its buildings suggest. I also like the mix of wildlife, swimming, snorkeling, and food, since you are not spending the whole day doing only one thing.

The weak point is meeting-point coordination. One booking ran into a missing guide at the Old Fort, a substitute guide at the boats, and unanswered calls and messages. The tour itself still went ahead, but you should arrive early, keep your phone charged, and confirm the meeting details before setting off.

Key points to know before you book

• The prison was never used as a prison: The buildings were planned as a prison complex but the island later served as a yellow-fever quarantine station.
• More than 50 giant tortoises live here: Some are over 100 years old, and you can feed them and take photographs.
• The tour includes time in the water: Snorkeling gear, boat transport, entrance fees, drinking water, and snacks are included.
• Lunch is served on the sandbank: Expect a seafood BBQ with Swahili dishes, cheese, tropical fruit, and more.
• The meeting point is central Stone Town: You start in front of the Old Fort on Mizingani Road and return there at the end.
• The $99 price covers the main costs: You pay extra only for alcoholic drinks, according to the supplied details.

Prison Island begins with an unusual story

From Stone Town, you meet your English-speaking guide in front of the Old Fort on Mizingani Road. This is a practical starting point in the old city, but it is also a place where many boats, guides, and tours operate. That makes clear instructions important.

The island was purchased in 1893 by Lloyd Mathews, then the British First Minister of Zanzibar. Mathews built the prison complex you can still see today, but no prisoners were ever held there. Instead, the island became a quarantine station for people suffering from yellow fever.

That twist makes the visit more interesting than a simple walk around old walls. You are looking at buildings designed for one purpose but used for another. The site is not presented as a large museum with extensive displays. Its value comes from seeing the remains, hearing the story, and understanding how Zanzibar once used its offshore islands to control disease.

Your boat transfer is included in the price, as are the entrance fees. The exact boat size, journey length, and group size are not specified, so do not plan around a precise timetable. The meeting point and return point are clear, though: the Old Fort in Stone Town.

The old prison buildings offer a short history stop

The built remains on Prison Island are the first main part of the outing. You have time to walk around the former complex and learn about its intended role. The stop is compact rather than a full historical museum visit, so it works best if you enjoy places where the setting does much of the talking.

I like this part because it adds context to the beach and wildlife later in the day. Without it, Prison Island could feel like only a tortoise sanctuary with a nice shoreline. The old buildings give you a reason to look more closely and ask how the island changed from a proposed prison site into a quarantine station.

The history is also easy to grasp. You do not need a long lecture to understand the basic sequence: Mathews bought the island, the prison complex was built, prisoners never arrived, and yellow-fever patients were quarantined there instead. That unusual chain of events is the island’s strongest cultural feature.

Expect the heat to be a factor as you walk. Sunglasses and sunscreen are specifically recommended, and they are sensible items for both the ruins and the boat ride. Drinking water is included, but you should still use sun protection from the start rather than wait until lunch.

Giant tortoises are the island’s main attraction

The collection of more than 50 tortoises is likely to be the most memorable stop for many people. Some are more than 100 years old, giving you a chance to see animals whose lifespans stretch far beyond a normal holiday. You can photograph them and feed them while learning why they live on the island.

This is not a quick look at one animal in a small enclosure. The island has an established collection, and the tortoises are a central part of the visit. Their slow pace also changes the rhythm of the tour. After the boat ride and the historical walk, you get time to stop, watch, and move at a gentler speed.

I especially like the contrast between the old prison buildings and the tortoises. One tells you about Zanzibar’s colonial-era administration and public health concerns. The other gives the island a living presence that is much easier to connect with.

You will also find peacocks and small antelope on the island. They add variety, though the supplied information does not give details about how many there are or where you will see them. Treat them as additional wildlife rather than the main reason to book.

Feeding animals can be enjoyable, but follow the guide’s instructions. The tour includes the opportunity to feed the tortoises, and the guide can explain how to do so safely and appropriately.

Snorkeling adds a welcome change of pace

After exploring the island, you can cool off in the surrounding clear water. Snorkeling gear is included, and the stated aim is to search for tropical fish and coral reefs just off the island.

This part matters because Prison Island is not only a land visit. You can spend time in the water rather than simply looking out from the shore. The clear conditions should help you see below the surface, although water visibility can vary and the tour does not promise a specific number of fish or a particular reef site.

I would treat the snorkeling as a pleasant extra, not as a specialist marine excursion. The information does not state how long you snorkel, whether an instructor is in the water, or how far you swim from shore. If you are not a confident swimmer, ask the guide what area is suitable before entering.

The water is also your best break from the island’s heat. Bring sunscreen that you can reapply after swimming, and protect your eyes with sunglasses when you are back on the beach or boat. Snorkeling gear is supplied, so you do not need to pack a mask and fins unless you prefer your own equipment.

Lunch on the sandbank makes the day feel special

The meal is served on the sandbank, with a seafood BBQ, Swahili cuisine, cheese, tropical fruit, and other items. Drinking water and snacks are included as well. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so plan to pay separately if you want them.

This is where the tour earns much of its appeal. A standard island visit can become a short walk, a few photographs, and a boat ride back. Eating outdoors on the sand gives the day a more relaxed shape and lets you enjoy the setting without rushing straight from snorkeling to the return boat.

The food also gives you a taste of several styles at once. The seafood BBQ provides the main local flavor, while Swahili dishes connect the meal to Zanzibar’s coastal food culture. Cheese and fruit add familiar choices, which is useful if you prefer a mixed meal rather than seafood alone.

The exact menu is not provided, so you should not assume a specific fish, side dish, dessert, or vegetarian option. If you have dietary restrictions, contact the provider before booking and confirm what can be prepared. The supplied information only confirms seafood BBQ, Swahili food, cheese, tropical fruit, snacks, and water.

What the $99 price really covers

At $99 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Prison Island independently. The value comes from having several costs bundled together: the boat transfer, entrance fees, local guide, snorkeling equipment, lunch, drinking water, and snacks.

That package can make sense if you want one organized outing from Stone Town. You do not need to arrange a boat, find a guide at the island, hire snorkeling gear, or sort out lunch separately. The experience also combines culture, wildlife, swimming, and food, which gives the price more weight than a simple boat transfer would.

The value is less clear if your main goal is only to see the tortoises. In that case, the snorkeling and lunch may be extras you do not care about. The same is true if you already have a boat arrangement or prefer choosing your own restaurant and schedule.

The package includes the main practical needs, but not alcoholic drinks. It does not state a duration, group size, or the precise lunch location beyond the sandbank of the island. Those missing details are worth asking about before you commit, especially if you have limited time in Stone Town.

The meeting point deserves extra care

The tour starts in front of the Old Fort on Mizingani Road and ends back at the same meeting point. That is convenient for anyone staying in or near Stone Town, and it keeps the day simple once the group is assembled.

Still, the meeting process is the main concern I would not ignore. One person arrived for the scheduled start and could not find the expected guide. They were directed to the boats, where a different guide took over, while calls and messages to the company went unanswered.

That does not prove every departure will have the same problem, but it is enough to justify a few precautions. Confirm the meeting point and start time in writing, arrive early, and save the provider’s contact details before leaving your accommodation. If no guide is visible, ask clearly where the Prison Island group is gathering rather than following an unknown boat operator without checking.

The Old Fort area can be active, so a description such as in front of the Old Fort matters. Keep your booking details available on your phone. A charged phone is more useful here than relying on a last-minute search for contact information.

Who will enjoy this Zanzibar outing

This is a good fit for you if you want a varied day rather than a single-purpose excursion. The tour suits people who like a little history, enjoy seeing animals up close, want a swim or snorkel, and appreciate lunch being handled for them.

Families may like the tortoises and peacocks, though the tour is not listed as suitable for wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for people with back problems. Boat transfers, walking on the island, and time on a sandbank can be physically demanding.

Snorkelers should find enough here for a relaxed look at fish and coral. You should not book it expecting a technical snorkeling trip, a long guided reef session, or detailed marine biology instruction, since those features are not specified.

Food-focused visitors will appreciate the seafood BBQ and Swahili dishes. If you do not eat seafood, check the meal options first. The description confirms some non-seafood items, including cheese and fruit, but it does not confirm a full alternative meal.

What to pack for Prison Island

The official essentials are simple:

• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen

I would also keep your booking details and phone somewhere easy to reach, given the reported meeting-point trouble. A swimsuit is sensible if you plan to use the water, though the provided information does not list one among the required items.

Drinking water and snacks are included, so you do not need to buy those as part of the tour. Alcohol is not included. You may want to bring extra sun protection for after snorkeling, since swimming can remove sunscreen from your skin.

Wear something comfortable for walking around the island and suitable for getting wet. No special clothing requirement is given, so keep it practical rather than formal.

Booking flexibility and cancellation

You can reserve the activity and pay later, which helps if you are still arranging your Zanzibar plans. The cancellation policy allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours in advance.

The activity is offered in English. No other guide language is specified, so English is the safe choice when deciding if the tour will work for your group.

Because the tour returns to the Old Fort, it is easy to connect with other Stone Town plans before or after. Still, do not schedule an important appointment too tightly against the return. The supplied details do not give a fixed duration, and boat conditions or meeting delays can affect the day.

Should you book the Prison Island tour?

I would book this for the well-rounded mix of experiences. The unusual quarantine story, giant tortoises, clear water, snorkeling, and sandbank BBQ make $99 reasonable for someone who wants convenience and variety in one package.

I would hesitate if you need exact timing, have mobility or back problems, dislike seafood, or want a highly structured historical tour. The reported guide coordination problem is also worth taking seriously. Confirm the meeting details before departure and arrive early.

For most visitors staying in Stone Town, this is a useful way to see Prison Island without arranging each part yourself. Just go for the combination of wildlife, water, and lunch, not for an extensive museum visit or a guaranteed expert-led reef expedition.

FAQ

Where does the Prison Island tour start?

The tour starts in front of the Old Fort on Mizingani Road in Stone Town, Zanzibar.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point in front of the Old Fort.

Is boat transport included?

Yes. The boat transfer is included in the price.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a seafood BBQ, Swahili cuisine, cheese, tropical fruit, and more.

Are drinks included?

Drinking water is included. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is included.

What animals can you see on Prison Island?

You can see more than 50 tortoises, some over 100 years old, along with peacocks and small antelope.

Was Prison Island used to hold prisoners?

No prisoners were ever housed there. The prison complex was built, but the island instead became a quarantine station for people suffering from yellow fever.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users or people with back problems?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with back problems.